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“And the dark web’s so much better?”
“Ant…”
“I wasthere, Jess. I was there in London when that guy got slaughtered.”
“Yeah, I know. You never stop bloody going on about it.” Anton’s face darkened and Jesse pursed his lips. “Look… You and Sareena don’t go around teaching Olly it’s okay to judge people by their race or anything, do you? So, you shouldn’t—”
“The key word there ispeople, Jess. Thosethingsare not people.”
“It was just one rogue haemophile, Ant.”
His brother’s handsome face was tight with anger. His green eyes, a shade darker than Jesse’s own, blazed. “It only takes one.”
“You’re being daft.”
“They aredangerous. And I don’t want my son anywhere near them. Understand?”
Jesse was grateful to be shown the door. He made for the gate, but someone calling his name made him turn.
Sareena crunched down the snowy drive toward him. Her breath hung around her in clouds, and her warm, kind face held an unfamiliar strain of worry.
“Try not to think too badly of your brother, Jess,” his sister-in-law said. “He’s just trying to protect Oliver, that’s all.”
“Olly was scared out of his wits until I showed him this guy’s just a guy,” Jesse said, lowering his voice. “His own dad telling him there’s monsters living up the road? Jesus Christ.”
Sareena winced. “You have to understand how much Blood Winter shook him. His conference was in the same building where that man got killed.”
“Iknow.And that would shake anyone up. But this is about Olly. And I don’t think he needs to be scared of some dude who’s just trying to live his life.”
“I know, and I agree with you,” Sareena said, laying a hand on his arm. “But it’s not your fight.”
Anger, instantly doused by sadness, flared in his chest, and he looked away.
“I’m working on it, I promise,” Sareena said, squeezing his arm. “Just…give Ant a break, okay? He’s been finding everything tough since your dad passed.”
Jesse closed his eyes, a dull ache in his gut. “Yeah. Yeah, I know.”
Sareena’s smile was gentle, but her brown eyes were concerned. “You’re okay, right? You don’t need any money or—”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t usually miss calling Ant back. Are you out of credit again?”
“My phone died is all.”
Her gaze was knowing. “A contract phone would be more reliable, you know. There are some good deals around now. And we can help out with the payments.”
“I don’t need charity, Sareena.” Jesse regretted the words the minute they left this mouth and lowered his gaze. “Sorry. I guess it’s getting to me, too.”
Sareena put her hand on his arm. “You don’t need to apologize. And it’s not charity, Jesse. It’s for Oliver. He wants you to keep in touch, too.”
“I should get some work any day now,” he said softly. “The first thing I’ll do is buy credit.”
“And pay your heating bill?”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Promise?”
